Like every squad in Section VI and across the state, the Clarence Boys Soccer team is happy to have a season.
But if the Red Devils want to return to the top of Class AA, they’ll have to move beyond that.
Wednesday night, it appeared Clarence took a step toward doing so.
The Red Devils scored twice in the final two and half minutes for a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over ECIC-I foe Williamsville North Wednesday night.
The Spartans, who entered the game unbeaten, had more control of the play to start the game out. They scored just under 17 minutes into the game. Senior Jacob Adelman headed the ball in off the corner attempt and into the left side of net.
Oddly enough, Clarence says they were the ones that got a jolt from the goal – even if it took awhile for it to show.
“It was a wake up call for us,” senior Jacob Gajewski said. “Lately we haven’t been playing our best and we knew we had to pick it and start playing harder. After that first goal the tone just shifted.”
The Red Devils began to take more control as play went on but as the clock ticked down North’s defense, which hadn’t allowed a goal all year remained strong.
However, Clarence finally broke through when senior Luke Webster found the back of the net with 2:20 left.
A minute later, Gajewski headed the ball in for the game-winning goal.
According to Red Devils coach Mike Silverstein his team has had an up and down year with a record of 4-2-1 (3-2-1 ECIC-I). He feels Clarence finally got rewarded for playing with a sense of urgency – a lesson he hopes they take with them into the second half of this shortened season.
“I feel like this whole season sometimes we have this attitude we’re happy to be out here and we’ve been complacent with that,” Silverstein said. “We need to be pushed. This division is way too difficult, way too tough to ever relax.”
The Red Devils will host West Seneca West on Friday at 7:15 p.m. Williamsville North returns to action on Monday as they head to Frontier.
FINAL @SectionVI Boys Soccer @CHSBVS 2@Willnorthsoccer 1
The Red Devils score two goals in the final 2:20 to hand Spartans first loss of the season.@WNYAthletics @WCSD_K12 pic.twitter.com/5tFljzYRGl
— Francis Boeck (@FrancisBoeck) October 22, 2020
